Hermione's Boys: Sirius
Harry was in the middle of a heart-to-heart with Hermione, encouraging her to end her relationship with Ron so she could move on and find the happiness she deserved when the sudden appearance of an Auror interrupted their covert meeting. The unfamiliar wizard (or was it a witch?) informed them that Harry's presence was required at the Department of Mysteries in a no-nonsense but polite tone. He…she…it was not surprised when it was given no say as to the decision that Hermione was to join them. As a matter of fact, it was probably a good thing that she'd come – when it escorted them t the Department Head's office she was the only one who managed to keep her head. Mr. Potter was far too shell-shocked to string together proper words. And the newly recovered from the veil, now looking like he was barely over thirty, Mr. Black was far too busy crying and trying to talk at the same time while squeezing his Godson in an embrace so tight it seemed impossible the boy didn't pass out from oxygen deprivation.
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"Mooney," Sirius called from his seat in an armchair adjacent to the one his old friend sat in. Lupin glanced up at him over the rim of his cup as he sipped on his firewhiskey. Restless as always, Sirius turned to sit sideways with his legs dangled over the arm of the chair.
"Yes Padfoot?" Lupin asked softly, watching as Sirius scowled at the dark gloom of the Black Library, wondering why the man didn't just redecorate it and stop trying to glare a hole in the foundation.
"Harry you seen Harry recently?" He finally asked somewhat rhetorically. Lupin barely managed to give the anticipated nod before he continued. "Then maybe you can tell me why the bloody hell he's taken to dressing like the Fairy from Hell."
"I haven't the foggiest… it would appear no one does. Though Hermione seems quite annoyed by it. Not that you can blame her," Lupin alluded to the fact that Harry had also recently taken to moonlighting as his best friend's second shadow.
The men's voices were casual and light, as though they were discussing the weather and not Harry's disconcerting wardrobe change… or the fact that he'd adopted a matching persona to go with it. Both chose to ignore the fact that the change had occurred the day after Sirius' return. Somehow, pointing it out would just serve to make the phenomenon even more worrisome.
"Sirius… where are you?" An urgent sounding voice called loudly from the foyer.
"Speak of the devil," Sirius muttered, exchanging glances with Lupin. "Library Harry!" He shouted back, equally loud, as he stood to deposit his empty glass on a table. The sound of heavy, rapid footsteps coming up the stairs reverberated off the empty house's walls as Lupin followed suit with his own, barely touched, glass. Never losing their air of casualness, they sat and watched as Harry half ran into the room, urgency positively radiating off of him. Lupin and Sirius gaped at him.
"Sirius, do you have a spare room… or two?" Harry asked as he came to a halt in front of their chairs and refused to meet their eyes as he spoke. Both men exchanged looks at the abrupt question. The image of an errant child summoned for a lecture from his parents popped into their minds, and quickly morphed to that of a junkie looking for his next high as they watched him shift around nervously.
"Oh I think I can spare a few," Sirius said dryly. "I've only got an empty fucking mansion to myself," He mentally added.
"Ah…er…great. Umm… would you mind Hermione crashing here?" Harry's shifting increased, adding to the men's bewilderment. Sirius slowly shook his head.
"That's fine," he elaborated, knowing Harry was too… whatever he was to understand the simple gesture. "I thought she was staying with you and Lover Boy. Do you two need rooms too?" Sirius asked, trying to figure what was going on, and hoping to have some life brought into the dreary house.
"Um… no… well maybe. I don't know. Uh… but 'Lover Boy' won't, so we'll see," harry stumbled over his words as he tried to figure out how much to say. Instantly, alarm bells went off in the two suspicious marauder's heads.
"What's going on Harry is everything alright?" Lupin questioned him carefully. His tone was reminiscent of the manner by which a person approaching a stray dog may act.
"No." His response was quick. He continued, sounding the most sure he'd been all evening. "But it will be by the end of the night. Look, I've got to run. I promised Hermione I'd have everything packed and moved by the time she did it. I'll soon you soon." Harry turned to leave as quickly as he came.
"Harry!" Lupin barely managed to call out and stop him before he ran back down the stairs. Harry returned to the doorway and looked at him, obviously desperate to bolt. "If you need a safe, neutral bed, we've plenty of space at him," he said as Sirius' foot nudged his own in thanks. Harry's bright, thankful smile confirmed their suspicions that things were far from peaceful between the Golden Trio. Neither knew just what was going on, but they knew it was big and things were going to get worse before they got better. After all, Harry was back to dressing in his normal street clothes.